I think that at a visceral level we are uncomfortable with education--it is undemocratic, anti-egalitarian, hierarchical--and are happiest when we can turn it into something else: a sports program, a jobs program, daycare.
On the other hand, I suppose it does serve as advertising. Probably a lot more people know of Stanford because of its occasionally excellent football and basketball teams than know of it because of what it has done for computing.
On the other hand, I suppose it does serve as advertising. Probably a lot more people know of Stanford because of its occasionally excellent football and basketball teams than know of it because of what it has done for computing.